The San Antonio Spurs lost to the Utah Jazz 128-117 on Wednesday night. Malaki Branham led the Spurs with 21 points. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Tre Jones and Devonte' Graham each had 17 points. The Spurs are now 19 and 57 on the season.
SPURS POSTGAME QUOTES
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich
(On not knowing which group of guys will mesh from night to night…)
“It’s pretty much been like that all year, so we’re kind of used to it. As long as they’re giving effort, they’re all learning and making mistakes. Overall, that’s what we’re trying to do. No matter who’s not playing, other guys are happy to get minutes. So, trying to get them to learn how to play is what this is all about. They’re giving the effort. We can play better, but I’m happy with all their efforts. We’re not blessed with enough talent to have so many guys out and then have guys that have never played together really come out and be a unit, but they’re doing the best they can. That’s all you can ask.”
Spurs Guard Tre Jones
(On tonight’s game…)
“Our offense was stagnant. We weren’t getting a lot of movement. The first half, we had some stretches where we had good movement on the offensive end and made them work and got whatever shots we wanted. In the fourth quarter, we didn’t have the same movement and shots weren’t falling. They were coming back at us in transition and what not.”
(On the last game this year at the AT&T Center…)
“Super crazy. Driving in today just thinking about how quick the year went. It’s crazy, but super thankful for all the support we got all year from our fans. Obviously, it’s a little bit of a down year for us, not winning as many games as we would have wanted to. But the fans continued to have our back every single night. Last game in here tonight, and it’s almost sold out there. We did some really good things at home this year. Showed some flashes this year as well. It was a rough year for sure, but we still have a week and a half on the road and the two games in Austin. Looking to finish strong.”
(On what the team can get out of the remaining games…)
“Continue to work on everything we’ve been trying to do all year. Continue trying to tighten up on the defensive end, starting with transition defense, trying to do all the little things on the offensive end, continue to play together, move the ball more, try to play the right way, build good habits. I mentioned before how good habits will go a long way. Continue to try and do those little things throughout these last few games and carry that momentum throughout the summer and be ready to go next year as well.”
Spurs Guard Malaki Branham
(On what they hope to do to finish this season strong…)
“Compete. Compete every night. You know, keep improving, keep learning, we’re a young team.”
(On if he had any expectations of Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich before meeting him and if so, did his opinion change…)
“I don’t think I had any expectations coming into it. But now I’m learning he’s going to be coaching me up. Ever since I’ve been playing, he just wants me to grow, grow as a pro and off the court, be a better man. I love it.”
(On the Spurs locker room chemistry…)
“It hasn’t changed. Like you said, there’s a lot of new faces in the locker room and the team chemistry is still there. We open arms when new people come in, and the locker room hasn’t changed.”